davis



I). 22, 1942. 5. E. DAVIS 2,306,207

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y W 9 h ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1942. R. E. DAVIS 2,306,207

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN P\ INVENTOR. 7

ATTORNEYS R. E. DAVIS KNITTING MACHINE Dec. 22, 1942.

Filed Aug. 2, 1955- 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTQRNEYS Dec. 22, 1942. DAVIS 2,306,207

KNZITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY RE. DAVIS KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1935 5 sheets-sheets INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY; I

Patented Dec. 22, 1942 r I 2,306,207 g VKNI'TTING MACHINE Robert Evan Davis, "Fort Payne,'Ala.; assignor to r W. BSDavis &' Son, Inc'.,'Fort corporation of Alabama.

Payne, Ala a Application'Angust 2, 1935," Serial No. 34,328

' 15 Qlaims.

This invention; relates" to knitting machines,v

and particularly to circular knitting-machines A machine, constructed according to. thepresent invention, is especially adapted for knitting articles of apparel having atubular, highly elastic, form-fitting portion which is constitutediby the addition to the usual plain-knit fabric of an elastic thread, which'is knitted into the, fabric at spaced stitches in each of a plurality of spaced courses and under sufficient tenslon'so that-when the form-fitting portion is completed the said cause the finished fabric to have theappearance and the general characteristics of the well-known rib fabric.

A feature of the invention consists in a provision of shouldered needles and a cooperating cam arrangement for throwing downall except see lected needles prior to reaching the knitting point; and a suitable feeding arrangement whereby elastic thread may be fed to the selected invention. will be especially adapted to knit an elastic thread,:in combination with an inelastic thread.

1 In the accompanying 1 Various other features and advantages of the V apparent from the following particular description and. from an inspection of the accompanyingdrawings. f drawings, there is shown I for the purposes or. illustration "a circular knit-' ting machine of the Banner type, to which the a several features of the present invention are par- ,ticularly; applicable, but it is within the contemplation of the invention to apply these features either singly or in combination to other typesof .machlnes towhichthese features may be suited. For the purpose of simplifying the illustration of spaced stitches are drawn toward oneuanother to the invention, only certain portions of the machine have been shown, andcertain details have beenomitted in order to simplify the showing;

for the disclosure'of the further details, reference i may be made to the patent to Hemphill #933,443,

granted September 7', 1909..

Althoughthe novel-features which are believed 1 I to be characteristic o'f this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and needles only, whereby the elastic thread is knitted into spaced wales of thefabric in addition to the fabric-forming thread, and preferably in plating relation therewith.

A further feature of the invention consists in courses, and for controlling thenumber and the arrangement of courses into which the elastic thread is knitted; r

A further feature consists in the provision of a thread finger at the feeding point for feeding the elastic thread tothe selected needles above the remaining needles, in such a manner that the elastic thread is not knit by any needles other than the selected needles.

A further feature rotatable spool and whereby the elastic selected needles under a predetermined controlled tension.

Anotherfeature of the invention consists in the provision of a binder mechanism which inbinder arranged to' bind the-relasticcludes a thread after the desired; number of courses of v knitted, and to hold the elastic thread throughout the operation of knitelastic thread have been ting the remainder of the hose until the first elastic-carrying course of the next succeedinghose is knitted.

[ a provision of a. control mechanism for the cam arrangement controlled'by the driving mechanism for the machine, for controlling'the'incorporating of the eiasticthread into theselected .thereof,inwhich:

advantages, and the 'manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsfo'rming apart Fig. 1 is afragmentary front elevational view of the top portion ofa machine constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical crossasection taken through -;-the upper portion of the. machine,- certain eleupper portion of the machine with certain porrconsists in a'provision" of a Q a friction dragforthej spool, j

thread may be fed to the ments being omitted for the purpose of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan viewof the tions being shown in section and certain portions broken away to show the construction.

Fig. 4 is a frontelevational View of the knitting cam.

.Fig. 5 is a side mechanisms Fig. '7. isan enlarged fragmentaryview of a portion of the machine illustrating the cooperation between the' knitting cam and the needles Fig. 8 is anenlarged sideelevational view of e the 'top plate and binders. i

Fig. 9 is an opposite side elevational' view of the same.

Fig. 10 is a view of a horizontallsection taken I along the, line ll'l-g-lOof Fig. 8.

55 Fig. 11 is a'diagrammaticside elevational view elevationalviewvof the auxiliary scam forming an element of the knitting cam.

, Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic view taken from the rear of the machine,jshowing the cam lock-out gear 3 driven by acooperatin'g bevel gear 4 carried on a main drive shaft 5. Secured to and supported on the bevel gear 3 is the usual needle cylinder 6, in which is carried a series of latch needles 111a and -1 b; ';1idable in grooves 8 and vmy tainedby circular springs 9;

All of the needles la and lb are and the other are'short butts (only the long butt needles being seen in the drawings). Ge'rtain of the needles, for example, every, fourth: needle;

areformed with short shoulders s, and there: mainder of the needles are formed with long shoulders t, the purpose ot which willhereim.

after appear. i The main shaft 5' is driven from aJsuitableZ source of power, and is connected by the usual driv'e mechanismlnot shown) to shafts 1H "and r 2,-whi ch' carry numerous I control im'echanis'ms;

hereinafter described; ,Fglfg tlle purpose-of 1111;5- ;tratior i the drive r'nech isrnl has been chosen so thatthe'shaft l2'fis;rotated otie fourthof a revolution for'fejachgrevolution of thefneedle cyl-' inder The'shaft I 'l"'isfrotated 'onerevolution ",for eacharticle'knitted,"

Supported on ta e table 2 is 3'1 'platel 5 onwhich is .slidably mounted a knittingjcam'hlock Ithavc ,in'gi a slotted'opening' ll cooperating with guide members l8 and [9, fixed totheplate 15 for the purpose of guiding the knitting camblocic l6. A1'sosupported on the plate I5isa' ringcain ll fornsupportin'g the needles 1a andlb during the rotation of the-cylinder 6, inja known manner. f Upstandingfrointhe'table' 2' is the standard "j 20' and the'hollow standardj', the" former" of which serves to support the usual sinker cap 2| 7 and thesink'er head'12fcarrying" a series of inkers' 23 for cooperation withthe needles 1,

center an ne 'secondside cain 28, and a bottonicam 10, 1 The sid'ejcam' 21' is formed with an upper foam surface ll anda-lower cam surface '32, which latter surface {cooperates-with a ,carnsurface 33 on the cam ilk-toconstitutean inclined' 'groove' u. v The center cam 28 is formed with angularly'arranged" surfaces 35 and "36,

which cooperate with the top surface 31 'of the 'cam llfto constitute' a generally horizontal groove 38. f lifhe cam 29 isformed' with 'an upper su'rfaceifand "a lower surface 40, which latter surface cooperates with the adjacent surfacell of, the bottomcam 20', toconstitute an :inclined groove 42. a. Slidahlein a'liorizontal' way 49,-;formed in'the 2 cm block 25; isan auxiliary c'amconstituted by an' elongated portion 5 I, formed integral with and terminating at one extremity inan inclined ,bladeI2, slidable in'an open notch 5i formed in the center cam 28. The-"auxiliary cam has three positions of adjustment, {namely "retracted" (see Fig. 3), wherein the based the blade '2 abuts theend' f the notch 53 (Fig. 7); "extended, wherein the" end" ofthe-bla'de 52 abuts the needle cylindert: and intermediate (see Fig; '1), wherein thdbladelies in'the path of the long shoulders t, but out of the path of 2 c the short shoulders s."

Theouter extremity of the cam ill is reduced,

and extends through an opening 55 formed in the'standard2l (F18. 3) Acoil' spring 60, comprovided with the usual butts b, half of which are longbutts- The knitting cam l8 (Flg fil'comprlsesjacam block 25 towhich is secureldf'a side ca'm'Z-I; a

pressed between washers ti. and 62, bearingrespectively against the standard 24 and the shoulder formed on the cam 50, serves to urge the cam Slitoward the extended position. Upstanding fromthe portion 5| adjacent the shoulder, is a pin 63 with which cooperates a reduced end '62 of a control lever 65, which is pivotally I supported by a pivot member 66, to a bracket 1 61 -seouredto-the stander-d2. .The lever 65 is pivotally connected at 8 8 {to a link 69, which in turn is connected to avpivot rod 10 (Fig. 1) connected pivotally to one enact a lever H which is oscillatably supported by a pivot pin "and which engages' at its other end acontrol cam Ill carriedona gear wheel 15 mounted for rotation on the shaft l2.

The; auxiliary cam 50 is normally urged into extended position by the spring 60. However, upon suitablerotation of the shaft l2, the cam H ngages the. end of the lever H and moves I the latter to actuate the associated control mem- '-bers and move the controllleverlii in a counterclockwlseidirection (Fig.1 3). to. move the auxji '--iIiary' caminto intermediateposition;

cam 50 in retracted p0sition,;includes vacranlr' 'aoy pivotedam abracket '19- fixed to the table 6 2,-which crank has an arm ll adapted to engage the lever 851 at a point near the outer end thereof, and which :has a second arm 82 rtopwhich is connected-; a"Lpul1 "rod, 83; The pull rod Ilia connected to'alever mounted on a shaft 85,

'Iand havingits other. endladapted to ride on p a .drum' 88' carried ona; shaft H Detachably secured to the drum this a; cam -81 whereby, upon suitable rotation of the shaft Ii, the lever '84 ismoved angularly, to, drawthe pull rod 81 40 down, andlthus rotate the crank, 80, in a,clock-' --.wisei direction (as viewed in Fig. 6), to thus rotate the lever 65 ina direction to draw the cam tozthe left. -Thus, the cam]; and the associated lock-out mechanism serve as, a mas- 5 terioon'trpl for the auxiliary'cam 50. f r a I e standard 24 ,(Figs. '1 and 2) isupports on itsupper'end a doubly-bent.-yoke H10 in which is mounteda pivot member Inl, which pivotally carries a desired number of i threadflngers i I2,

I II, respectively. Thej flngers are normally urged into the. lower; or feeding position j(as shown inFig.-c2),.by leaf springs 108,109. and mum whichvposition the iingersllll and 1M rest ,on

: a" supporting plate I H. i The finger l 02 is prevented from dropping to the lower position assuined'by the other fingers I03Fand I, by reason *foffa stop screw H5 threaded through the top of {the "yoke I00 and adapted to engage the top portion' 'of the finger I02, whereby the feeding position" of the finger I02 is established slightly a purpose-which will hereinafter appear, a g ,The base of each of; the fingers I02, ll! and llll ispositioned tobe 'eiigaged by a lift'lever 2*(Fig'. 2)"mount'ed" on'apivot Illandfactuatedbya pullrod H4 extending through the hollow standard "and controlled from a' threadchange 'cam" (notshown) carried onthe shaft 1,; The rotation of; the thread-change ca ac tuates-the rods mime the levers H2 to lift the fingers selectively out of feeding positions intonon-feeding positions. l

7s; Adjacent the ringers is the usual thread guide -inoperativeLand-for,"maintaining the auxiliary 50 m and- H14 having threadopenings lfl, m and:

above .thati of theotherilnger's I03 and I'MQfor' us (Fig. 2) adapted to direct the thread to the.

several openings-l05, I06 and 101..

Extending from thetable 2 (Fig; 1) is an extension I20. supporting the usual spindles I21, on which the usual thread bobbins I22 may be supported. Extending upwardly from the table extension I is a standard I23 supporting a thread-guiding and tensioning mechanism .including a horizontal arm I25; f J

The arm I25 is provided with an upturned end I26" in which is supported, a shaft I21, on which is rotatably mounted a light spoolJZ B;

referablytormed of aluminum. iB'earing against the spooiis a coil spring I which bears at its otherend against'a collar I30'fixed'onf the shait I'21 by a set screw I3I. The frictional resistance to rotation 01' thespool, whichis provided by "t e spring I29, maybe varied at will byadjusting the. position of the collar 'I30 on.the shaft I21;

thus the tension on the thread which isbeirig' unwound from the" spool I28jmay be controlled.

I Carried on a pivot I (Fig. 1) mounted in the;

standard 20, is the usual latch ring I5I to'which is' secured a binder assembly I52, comprising a bracket I53 having depending arms I54 and I55 which are suitably attached to a topplate I56 having a. substantially semi-circular shape. The top plate I56 is provided with a depending projection I51 and an open notchl58 formed in the periphery'of the plate I56 adjacentthe thread fingers I02, I03and I04,'"and"providing'a hook I59 the purpose of which elements appears hereinafter. Q V

Pivotally supported on a pivot screw I64 .(Fig. 9) threaded'into the diametral edge of the plate I56, is a cutter I65urged into tight sliding contactwith the diametral edge of the plate by. a leaf spring I66 and cooperating with a wire guide I61. 'The cutter I65 is pivotally connected by a screw I10 to a link I1 I, which in turn is connected by a pivot screw I12 to an operating lever I13 pivoted by a screw I14 on an upstanding projection I15'integral with the bracket1'I53. The,

other end of the lever I13 is of arcuate form, and has formed therein an elongate arcuate slot I11 for a purpose which permits raising the latch"- ring, as will be understood.

Carried on the link I1I is a cross bar I18 adapted to bear against one end of a binder I19 which is pivoted-on a screw I threaded into an upstanding projection I8I integral with the "top plate I56, and having a foot portion I82 adapted to lie flat against the top of theplate I56 when the binder I19 is in closed position. The binder I19 is normally maintained fiat against the top plate by a coil spring I85 connected at one end to the binder I19, and at the other end to a spring 1 pin I86.

.'Ihe.cutter I65 and the binder I19are actuate ed simultaneously through the rocking move.- ment of the lever I13 about its pivot I14, which movement is accomplished by the movement of a pull rod I (Fig. 11) connected by apivot ISI, at one end, to the end of the lever I 13, and at the other end to a rockinglever I93 which is carried rotatably on a shaft I94, and has at its other end cam'50 in its'retractedposition.

As the needle cylinder is rotated, the needles are successively movedinto engagement with the cam block I6 (Figs dand n), and the buttib a nose I95 adapted to ride on a cam or drum I96 mounted on the shaft II and having a suitable cam I91 for rocking the lever I93, to thereby rock the lever I13.

Pivoted on a screw 200 (Figs. 8 and 10) threaded into the projection I54, is a, gravity-actuated binder 20I having an upwardly-extending nose I83 for guiding thread into position and for raising the binder, which binder is adapted to secure eration of the ,cam actuated binders! 19:

' Pivoted on. the-screwl 80-;is a second-,,camactuatedbinder -205; having-a f ot portion. 206 v ex-, tending along :and adapted td that; on the ;top plate I56 The foot portion2Ilkzls-adaptedtolie below the level'of the binder, I19 -whenythedatter is in open position and-the binderv 205a-isin closeda. position. The, othfil? enact the. binder is attached-,-

to a sprine-vzlllhich is,anchor d;toz ejisp iri s,

' pin I 86 for normally; maintaining;-the: binder 205;. in closed position. The binder-205l also is con,- nec'te'drby a pivot screw-,208 -to a linkv209jwhichf,

in. turn is connected to a screw 2'1 0 toian; oper- V atin'g leverfl I. Theoperatinglever- 2ll is pivi oted on" a screW ZI 2; threadedinto an upstanding projection 2I3 formed on; the bracket l53f and the outer end ;2I4- of theilever- 2l-liisof arcuate I shape, and is provided with an "arcuate slot-2 I 5 in slide. Connetizted;3,130v th is provided with ajnose 220which'bearsfuponithe cam I96 and is adapted to rideup on -to afrise 2 j I g 1 t Secured to theltop plate I56 (Figsfi and 10) by a screw 225 is aguideimember-y226; which is twisted upwardly away from the topplate' I56 to a position wherein ,it engagesv thefelastic thread and guides it under thebinder when the finger- I02 is liftedinto non-feeding position.

Theoperationoi the machine is as follows: In elastic flfabricthread is fed from the bobbins I22 in the usual, manner,;through the thread-guiding and'tensionin ,mechanism, and T through thethread-fguide-J I6tothe openings I06 H andI010f the-thread fingers I03'and I04. In

forming a; hose, cus'tomarillfi body thread will be fed to; oneflngenandheavier heelandjtoeforming thread will be ied to another finger. An,

elastic thread, ,whichmay be either covered or uncovered: is fedydirectlyfrom {thespool I28;

through another-thread-guide I I6 to the. Opening I05 inthethread flnger-*I02; the spring I29 bearing upon-the spool I28 to provide a predeter-.-

mined tension on the elastic thread.

The main drivelshaft 6 isdrlven y. the drive.

means (not shown), to rotatethe bevel gear 4, which in turn drlvesthe bevel gear 3, to thusrotate the needlecylinder 6 in the usual manner.

The main drive shaft 5 also operatesthrough the drivingmechanism (not shown), to-rotate the ,shafts II and I2 and. the ,control cams carried thereby. I

When a hose .is started; the sha ft I .I. and the, cam 86', carried. thereby, are in such an gular positionthatthe lever 84,1bearsuponthecam 81 to thereby actuatethe' lock-out mechanism) and maintain the crank 80 in its position against the 1ever65, which in turn'maintains the auxiliary of each. needle rrid up. along the cam, surface 3I (Fig 4) into feeding-position, whereafter the needle is carried along horizontally until the butt b strikestheeam surface 35,, Which'throws the needledown into the groove 38,1whereinit rides until it engagesthecam surface 40 which the ends of .the .threador .threauis;duringv the up. V

- the upper surface of the cam ring 4 and raised to its initial position;

, mam

After a, certain number, of plain-kniticourses are knit, the lever 8! (Fig. 6) rides o iT the cam 81,.and thus permits the auxiliary cam 50 to be moved under the infiuenceof spring- 60 intoits extended ..posi tion wherein-.,the blade 52 bears against the needle. cylinder: 6, and;lies ,in the ,Whenthe said desired numberfof-plain courses have been knit the shaft'fliFig, ,1} hasrotated -"suflicien'tly to hrin'g the cam ail on the gear-15 into a position. to bear against the endl of the lever H,andro ck thesamefto operate the}asso.-

elatedlinkagegandrotatethe lever 5,- This retractsthe auxiliary cam 50 against the force of the spring ill-a ,suflicient am'ount 'so that the blade 5 2' (Fig, 4) lies in thepath of only the long, I shoulders. t,; and is not engagedjby the short shoulderssfas the needlesare ca'rriediby thejcam' I6, Thus, as the needles arefca'rried into' engage mentwith theicam J6, thefbutts'ride ,up', on the surface 3| in the usual manner, thus-raising all y of the ne'edle sjand thereafter thelong shoulders .t are engaged by the blade'fj and thrown down, but the needles having the short shoulders 3 continue'" to, move horizontally" ashortl distance,

j whereafterthebuttsof all off the needles are ehga'ged by the surface :35, and the needles moved through the knitting movenient in the usual manner;

' The actionlof the eaistptnftiente les isj'ilf1 -lustrated in lifi'g. 7, whereinfonlythre'e needles are shown. Thebutt p of the."leadin g (rear-most) .needle is ensagedhythe cam surface 35,"forcing the needle 1downwardlyfinto the knitting movement. The long shoulder. t of the; next needleis engaged by the blade 5i,v forcing this needle downwardly into position so that 'th'efbutt b will be engaged by the cam surrae'e; 35, and the trailingf uppermost needle in Fig'. .l needle is in the auxiliary cam-50 and permit-it to be extended, position bythe spring 60. I

The machine then continues ,to knit] plain courses of inelastic, or body thread, only, and

urged into the "elastic thread ,is not caught by theneedles, 1 since allof theneedles are thrown down; by ,the auxiliaryfeam 50 prior to reaching the feed point for the elastic threadr 3 During the knitting of at pail" bofifsj'iri which-the elastic thread'is notincihuiifed, the

, elastic thread eitendsfrom the feed'flnger m to'thelast heedlebywhich it was, knit into the aforedeseribed elastic carryirig coursef As the 7 said meme; is earned. ardunuzin its' path by the cylindeni'the elastic thread is. engaged by, "the j ;hook;lli9,;;andis held-inv the notchllilfout cr me 1 way of the, mans"; Thus the, elastic thread r maybe carried around-in the cylinder during'the "knittingo'f theplain'. courses without being picked up;by;jany of ,the needles and knit'int o the fabric at anilundesired point, -'and hencethe elastic 84, to rock the'lever and actuate the associated" and floatedv betweensuch spaced wales.

' elasticcarrying course, but mayextend continuously through the entirejsection of the garment,

After the desired humb er of plain, courses are knit, the cam lluagain ,actuates' the associated linkage to move; the auxiliary cam 50 into a its intermediate position and again produce a course iii-which the elas tic is knitted, in at spaced wales V 'Whenthe desired number of courses have knit an'd th'e endof the elastic-carrying portion of the hose/has been reached, the shaft Ibis rotated to bring the drum '86 into a position wherein the cam 8'! engagesthe' end of the lever members to rotatethe crank "80 in a clockwise direction (as shown in Fig. 5), to maintain the lever 65 in its rotated position, and thus retain the auxiliary cam S Q' in'its retracted position.

At this timethethread feed'cams (not shown) have been rotated;to such a position that the,

'pull rod m actuates the lever in to lift :the

thread finger "font 'of' feeding position, and

, at the same time the binder-operating cam drum I96 (Fig. 11) reaches a positionwherein the .noses I95 and 220 of the levers I83and 2|,

position to which it-has beenraised by the cam surface 3| (Fig. 4), with the short shoulder, s clearing the end ofethe blade 52.

The thread finger I02 is so'positioned 'that it feeds, the elastic :threadto thespaced'shortshoulder needles during thel'time thatlthese needlesare raised above the long-shoulder nee-1 dles, and thus the elasticthread is not fed to the longshoulder needles. However, since all of the needles are moved through the knitting movement successively in the same; manner, and at" the same heights respectivelyi'at each point,the

" fabricthread isifed by thethread finger Hllto all ofthe needles, and thus the elastic 'thread and the fabric threadere knitted simultaneous- ,ly by jtheshort-shoulder needlespreferably in plating relation, and onlythe fabric thread is knitted by the long-shoulder needles thus the elastic thread "is floated on' the back of the fabric between the spaced short-shoulderneedles; v

respectively ride on their respective cams 291 and 22 i, to actuate the associated mechanism and .rock the. levers I13 and III, to force the binders 205 and ll! against the surfaceof the top plate,'and simultaneouslyto actuate the cut ter I65, to sever the elastic thread, whereafter the cam drum I96 operates tdrbtateth lever int nd open the binder in, but the'binder 205 remains in closed position to securethe end of the elasticthread.

The machin'e' now continues to knit plain fabricthroughout the remainder of theleg portion,

and then theheel is formed in the usual manner by operation' of 'widening and narrowing picks (not shownl.f' when the'heel and the toe are "to beforrned, it is generally desirable to operate the binder H9 and thecutter "I65,'to sever'the body threadp ralse the feed 'flnger m, and to actuate the feed finger I04 to feed a heavier {thread to the needles, in a manner which is wellknown, whereafter the heavier thread is bound "and severed,. and the body thread again fed to 'At thecompletion of the last-described course, a

' thegea'r'" has been mjovedsuflici'ently "so that the end of the lever ILrides oil the camf'lfi, thus actuating the associated inembersto release the the needles. Duringtheropening and closing of the binder 119, the gravity binder 20f holds the fabricthread which has just been knitted, and the binder 2115 remains in closed positionto secure the elastic thread, and thusall of the threads are maintained in operating position first elastic-carrying course isstarted, the binder 205*is opened to permit the elastic thread to-be caught by the raised needles and bythe control the fabric in the manner mechanism #knit into.

above-described. i a l 'ii romlthe foregoing it "will be seen that the present invention-provides an improved knitting machine by which it is possible-to knit a highly elastic thread, such as uncovered rubberor covered'rubber, for example, fLasteXFinto a plainknit fabric composed of relatively inelastic thread,

andunder sufiicient tension so that the spaced" stitches'into whichthe elastic thread is'knitted aredrawn toward one another-torcause longi: tudinally' parallel ridges in the fabric in slmu1a-i tion of fabric knit on'a ribber. 2

An example" ar such fabric is disclosed Iand claimed: in by-co-pendi'rig application Serlalf-No:

28,463-filed June 26, 1935; The present inven-' tion; however; is not ,limited 'to amachine 'for. knitting the specific fabric aforementioned, but

novel "thread handling arrangementxensure the elastic thread being fed tothe needles at a. predetermined constant, and readily controllable tension, whichitension may simply and quickly be-varied by the setting of the friction-drag arrangement above-described. The feeding .arrangement for the elastic threadis such that it is fedonly to thefdesired raised needles and in such a manner that there is no possibility 'of the otherneedles:picking-up the elastic thread and knitting it into'rthe fabric.at'undesired'points; Furthermore, the'notch provided in the top plate ensures the I elastic thread. being fmai-ntained in such a. position, duringthe knitting ofthe courses which donut carry the elastic thread that the latter is 'notpicked lup'by any of' the-needles, but

--is maintained iii-readiness to bel knitted by the selected needles atthe-beginning of: the; next elastic thread'co'urse;

- Thespeciallydesigned. binder for. the

elastic thread during the knittingof the portions of the article which: do not carry: a the elastic thread ensures against the latter snappingout of.- operative position dueto the tension thereon,

I and to its inherent. elasticity, thus overcoming one of the well-knovv-ndifiiculties "in knitting elastic'i'thread, namely handling the thread in such a-inanner-as-to' overcome' theundesired certain features :of. the invention are capable of broader application, as will be apparent to those-- skilled inflthe art;

The provision of -the: shouldered needles? i the: cam arrangementdisclosed' in the foregoingprovides-"a simple, sureand readily adjustable" arrangement for controlin'gl--.the"needles, ,tofiprovicl'e afloat-stitch knitting operationav The arrangement is such ethat'it does not interfere in anyway with the plain knitting operation of thev needles, and such.plain-knitting may be carried out in a satisfactory manner" with a machine modified according to the presentinvention as well as with a. machine not-so modified. It will y be apparentwthat,.:although the present men-'3 tion provides aiverycsatisfactory needle-controL ling arrangement for producing [a float-stitch knitting operation, yetyonlyiaxfew and simple changes ,in the existing knitting-machines are necessary towconstruct fiagmachine according .to v applicants-invention. Therefore, 'it is possible 60 to apply applicants invention t0' 6XiSting machines without incurring the large expense of redesigning or rebuilding the latter: 1

The novel control arrangement for the aux liary cam .whlch: applicant has, .provided permit rapidand easy yvariation "inthe j number and spacing oj -the ,elastic carrying "courses. This ing from the spirit of thefin'vention;

displacement of the elastic thread, due to. its, tendency to; return t o, i ts untensioned condition;

While :"certain, novel:v features of. the-invention have beendlsclosed and' are :pointed out in the annexed-claims, it will'beunderstood that'varlous omissions,:- .substitutions: and changes :may be :made by those skilledin the; artlwithout depart- Although the thread-handling features have been disclosed in combination with a novel .cam

' arrangement for 'raising selected needles tore 40" .it should be obvious thatthe-iormer maybe ceive a thread not fe'd to'the remaining needles,

employed ,in connection .with othentypes of needle-selecting-arrangements; For example, the.

needles may be selected. .by. raisingthem with jacks, .or by bending them .inwardlyawaynfrom the'remainingneedles,by depressing the remain ling needles, or in-other-vvays.

What is claimed isal r- 1- v 1. Acircular knitting machine comprising, in combination-a rotatable needle cylinder, a series of needles carried-thereby, cam means for actumay be done in various-ways;- as -willjbe apparent;

such as by changing the detahablencam' carried on 'the gear-wh'eelyor by varying-the driving ratioof the driving mechanism. .The variation in. the number of v elastic-carrying courses, or the lengthvof the elasticscarrying'section of the ar-- ticle, may readily bevaried' by changing the cam which controls the look-out 'mechanism which renders the auxiliary; cam-controlling mechanisminoperative.- From the foregoing description, it willbe seen that: variation in the several cams may readily be made by removing the cams from ating said needles, means for throwing down all except selectedneedles prior-to engagement by saidscam means to draw a.stitch,i-a-vfeed,-finger mounted, adj acentlsaid needles lmeans positioning said ",fi'ngerfor feedinga thread t o said selected needlesonly; airo'tatable spool for supplying thread to thej'saidfeed' finger, friction means cooperating with ,.said spool to maintain the thread underfpredetermined uniform tension, at top plate mounted-above said cylinder and having flan open slotadapted to receive the thread from said finger when-said fingerisnot feeding to said selected needles, a-binder on said .top

plate adapted touengage said thread'when said finger is in non-feeding positionand means for actuating-said binder; l I

their respective supporting members, and replacingbthem by longer or shorter cams or 'by'a greater orl'es'ser'number of'cams.

The arrangement for handling elastic thread also is simple,*and-'may readily be applied to existing machines without considerable change therein.- The several elements constituting the 2 In a knitting machine, in combinationya series of needles, means for feedingan inelastic thread to said needles; meansfor moving said needles through a knitting movement to knit a plurality of courses of plain-knit fabric, needleselecting means operative during the knitting of non-consecutive coursesof fabric for bringing selected spaced needlesof said'series intoa position to receive a thread independentlyiofjthe' remaining needles, means for, feeding an 'additional and elastic thread.'.underpredetermined tension, to said selected needlsfonly during the knitting of said non-consecutive courses, and

needles'in a 'aised position relative to the re- -rnaining needles,,mean's for feedinga thread to means operative upon the completion of a'pre determined number. of courses for rendering' said needle-selecting means and said elastic feeding means inoperative- 1 a 3. In a knittingmachine; series of needles, means -f or.moving said needles through a knitting movement" to knita-plu'rality of coursesof fabric. means .'-for. feeding, an ins elastic thread to allof said needles, means for feeding an' elastic thread in the hooks of spaced,

needles of said seriesv only during the'knltting of non-consecutive coursesof fabric, and means threadin* combination, a:

for-feeding thread to said needles, needle-selecting means operative during certain of the revoluiions of said cylindergfor.positioning selected said selected needles, anda top plate mounted above saidfcyiinder' and having an open slot therein for receiving said second thread and. urnaintainingthe same-out of the needle path during the revolutions ofsaid cylinder in which saidn'eedle-selecting means is inoperative.

8. In a circular knitting machine, in combi- '7 nation, a-needle 'cylindena series of needles :in

' said cylinder; means for feeding both an infor maintaining a predetermined tension on said elastic thread awhile itis fed, and means for gui'ding'said; elastic thread outiof the pathof said spaced" needles during the knitting of the courses. intermediatetthe said non-consecutive courses.

, .4. In a knittingmachine, in 'combin'ation, needle; cylinder; fa pluralityof needles-"carried 'by'" said rcyli'nder a stitch-forming cam including a 1 surface fordepressing all of saidneedles, driving meansforactuating said cylinder: to move-said needles past said cam for actuation-1 thereby;

means including an auxiliary cam'abuttingsaid' needle depressing surface for depressing spaced needles of said series below'the remainder, of f said needles prior totheinitial stitch-knitting depressionof the remainder of the-needles by the stitch-forming cam, means normally urging'said auxiliary cam into the path of said spaced needles, and means actuated by said-driving means for retracting said-auxiliary cam outof the path of said needles. I I e 5. In a circular knittingmachine, inv combination, a rotatable needle cylinder, a series :of

needles carried by said cylinder,- a,plurality:of

thread-feedfingers mounted adjacent said cyl-' inder, means for knittingthread' from one of said fingers-means for knitting thread from an other ofsaid-fingers in plating relation withthe thread fromsaid first finger during the knitting of non-adjacent courses, and a top plate mounted above saidcylinder and having an open slot in its circumferential portion for receiving thread extending between said second finger and said needles during the knitting of the courses intermediate said non-adjacent courses and constituting means for mantaining said second thread out of the path of said needles during the knitting of said intermediate courses.

6. A circular knitting machine comprising, in

combination, a needle cylinder, a series of needles carried thereby, means for rotatingsaid cylinder, means for actuating said needles, means for feeding a thread tosaid needles, means for feeding a second thread to selected needles of said series during each of a plurality of nonconsecutive revolutions of said'cylinder, a top plate mounted above said-cylinder, and means on said top plate for engaging said secondnamed thread and maintaining it out .of the path of said selected needles during the revolutions of said cylinder in which said second thread is not fed to said selected needles.

7; In acircular knitting machine, in combination, a needle cylinder, a series of needlescarrid thereby, means for rotating said cylinder, cam means engageable by said needles for effecting a stitch-forming movement thereof, means elastic threadand an elastic'thread to at least certain of said needles, a thread cutter, a binder operative with said threadqcutter, means-for opening and closing said binder for binding and cutting said threads g a second binderoperable' independently-cf saidjfirst binder for securing said elastic thread during the openingand closing operation of said first binder, and means for actuating said second binder.

9, Ina .'circular knitting machine, in combiflnationjajt'op plate, a binder, means 'pivotally; mounting'said binder for movement between open position and closed position contacting said.

plate, cam means for actuating said binder, a cutter: and a gravity 'actuated binder pivotally mounted on said plate 'onone side of said first binder, a third binder, means pivotally mounting said third binder on said plate on the other side ofsaid first binder, for movement between open position and 'closed position, and cam means tor actuating said thirdbinder. Y i

10; In combination with a circular knitting machine constructed and arranged to knit hose with an elastic thread under tension in the cult portion thereof, abindercomprisinga pair of independently movable thread clamps, one for a regular thread and'the other for the elastic thread, a shear actionfor severing the several threads, and means foropening andclosing the clamps and the shear; action, .respectivelmlor clamping'and cutting off the several threads, the

of saidseries prior to normal stitch-forming movement thereof, actuating means controlled by said driving means for moving said auxiliary cam into, active positiononly during non-con- 'secutive revolutions of saidneedle cylinder, and

locking means controlled by said driving means i and operable on said actuating means for rendering said actuating means inoperative for a predeterminednumber of revolutions of said nee-,

, d1ecylinder..

, 12. In a circular knitting machine, .in combination, a needle cylinder, a seriesof needlescarried bysaidcylinder, means for, rotating said cylinder, a plurality of thread-feed fingers mounted adjacent said cylinder, at least one of which'is adapted to feed an elastic thread, means for moving said fingers between feeding and none feeding positions, means for maintaining said elastic thread feed fingers in non-feeding position for predetermined revolutions of said cylv inder, a top plate mounted above said cylinder,

a main binder carried by said top plate andadapted to engage the threads extending be- I tween said needles and said fingers when said fingers are in non-feeding position, means for operating said main binder, an auxiliary bindermounted adjacent said main binder and operableindependently thereof to engage said elastic thread and:means for operating said auxiliary binder to secure said elastic thread whenvsaid main binder is opened during the period said elastic thread feed finger is in non-feeding position.

13. In a circular knitting machine, in combia series of needles;carriedinsaidcylinderysaid;

nation, a needle cylinder, a series of needles carried by said cylinder, driving means for rotating said'cylinder, cam means for moving saidv needles through a stitch-forming movement, means for feeding an inelastic thread to all of said needles,

a, first binder for securing said'inelastic thread it the end of a knitting operation, means can'- ;rolled by said driving means for'actuating said )inder, means for selecting spaced needles of ;aid series, means for feeding an elastic thread 0 said selected needles only, lockoutmeanscon' rolled by said driving means for rendering said ieedle-selecting means inoperative, a second Jinder operable independently of said first bind- :r for securing said elastic thread, and means,

:ontrolled by said driving means for actuating laid second binder to secure said elastic thread luring the operation of said lockout means.

14. In .t a; knitting machine, ..@in. combination, is, series, of needles; a: needle:v cylinder. carrying said needles,x.a.knitting10am,.drive'means'iforrmoving. v 7

said cylinder to carryasaid:needlestpastandinto engagement with said knitting cam; anzauxiliary cam movable into and out of the 'pathlofiispaced needles of said series, actuating means :controlle'd by said drive; means lior :moving :said auxiliary :cam' into the path of i said: spaced-needles during noneconsecutive. revolutions;ofasaid a cylinder; and

. lockout means 1 controlledvbyrsaidzdrive means for rendering.saidcontroli'means'linoperativedurlng,

a *predetermine'dfnumber"of revolutions 0f1-$31d cylinder. 7 15. In a knitting "machina'ea needle 'cylinder,

series including a groupv of long Fbuttneedles and a groupof short but needles, each group-com prising a plurality of. spaced needles having relatively-long shoulders and the remainderhaving relatively short shoulders, a stitch forming cam device including .a cam block, side. cams and-acenter cam,'driv'ing means" for actuating said'cyl- 'inder'to move said needles p'ast' saidcam-device, an aux liary camislidable'insaidcam block on the leading side-of'said center cam, said auxiliary cam being slidable'from-aposition lyingiin the r path of all of said shoulders, through. aposition :in'the path; of said long shoulders only to aposition out of the path of'all of said shoulders, and

means controlled:by' said'driving means foryac- 'tuatingsaid auxiliary cam. g I

ROBERT EVAN DAVIS.

Disclaimer 2,306,207.-Robert Evan Davis, Fort Payne, Ala. KNITTING MACHINE. Patent dated Dec. 22, 1942. Disclaimer filed June 23, 1950, by the assignee, The Davis Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13 of said patent.

[Oflicial Gazette July 25, 1950] 

